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The best police blog on the web.Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:49:15 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.1If You See a Bomb Tech Running, You Better Keep Up!http://blog.phillypolice.com/2012/09/if-you-see-a-bomb-tech-running-you-better-keep-up/
http://blog.phillypolice.com/2012/09/if-you-see-a-bomb-tech-running-you-better-keep-up/#commentsThu, 27 Sep 2012 09:30:24 +0000http://blog.phillypolice.com/?p=10685On October 20, 2012 the Philadelphia Police Academy will be hosting the 4th annual Police Survivors 5K run and 1-mile fun walk. If you have participated in any of the previous runs, you know that they are fun, well run events. All participants receive a long sleeve t-shirt, there are medals for every age group and they offer some of the finest post-race water in all of Philadelphia. The route is mostly flat and off of any major roadway with the exception of State Rd which will be closed to traffic. There are many reasons why the Survivors Run is the best 5K in the area, and now there is one more.

Police Officer James Graber has raised the bar. This year, Officer Graber, a seasoned runner and member of the Bomb Disposal Unit, will be running the 5K. You may ask, “Why is a cop running an FOP sponsored 5K special?” Well, Officer Graber will be doing the race wearing a big, bulky, green, possibly stinky, definitely heavy, bomb suit. Here is a picture of Jimmy wearing the 100-pound monster:

Officer James Graber and his running partner

The Bomb Disposal Unit is a 20-member unit that answers some of the most dangerous calls police work has to offer. In 2011 they responded to 260 incidents and are on pace to beat that number this year with 240 calls already. They are a dedicated group who train hard for their difficult and demanding job. Any one of them will tell you that wearing that bomb suit is a cumbersome and uncomfortable but necessary evil of their occupation. I have seen the suit and I have run 5K races and I know that combining the two is just a little bit nuts. This really adds an interesting twist to the event.

Please join the Philadelphia Police Department, bomb squads from across the region and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 on Saturday October 20, 2012 at the Philadelphia Police Academy, 8501 State Rd, in support of the Philadelphia Police Survivors Fund. Registration begins at 8:30am and the race starts at 10am. You can pre-register at http://www.active.com/running/philadelphia-pa/fop-lodge-5-survivors-5k-run-and-1-mile-walk-2012. We can guarantee that this will be the only 5K in the Philadelphia area the gives you the opportunity to run along side a guy in a bomb suit.

Wednesday afternoon, at the Fraternal Order of Police, Commissioner Ramsey and the Command Staff of the Philadelphia Police Department awarded over 75 Merit Commendations. The commendation is awarded to officers for highly intelligent and valuable acts of police service which demonstrate special initiative and perseverance in the performance of police duties. The officers are given a certificate signed by the Police Commissioner and a blue ribbon (pictured above) bar that can be worn above the badge on the uniform.